Mt. Everest

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Transcript of Mt. Everest

Mt. Everest Everything I'll need and Their Costs Climbing Fees and Expenses Extras I Wanted... Airfare $1500 to $5000 depending on class, routing and weight of baggage (included on different slide)Transportation Kathmandu to Lukla is about $250 roundtripHotels and food in Kathmandu and Lukla range from $300 to $700 depending on delaysNepal Visa $75Immunizations $200 For one individual, a round-trip ticket from Reno, Nevada to Kathmandu, Nepal on American Airlines is $2429 with coach service and no meals included and minimal baggage. For my team of three people and a sherpa By Sarah Swanbeck -Use of satellite Phone- $1,000-$3,000 Immunizations Other immunizations are dependent on your age, gender and the country from which you are traveling. Yellow Fever Current Vaccinations suggested by the CDC include: In order to climb the mountain, it is necessary to receive many immunizations before you leave home. Yellow Fever is a dangerous disease easily spread around Nepal and Tibet. The immunization will help to protect you not only from the virus, but also from sickness on the mountain. Malaria Malaria is a big problem in a country such as Nepal whose people live in the mountains with many insects. Vaccinations will help to keep the climbers from getting sick and delaying their climb. Sherpas Sherpa Insurance Sherpa Tip Sherpa Life When Not Guiding Expeditions Cost of a Sherpa The average sherpa costs between $5,000 and $25,000. The more experience the sherpa has, the more expensive he will be. Since the Sherpa is risking his life in order to take the climber to the peak, the customer/climber must pay $5,000 per sherpa for insurance. It is tradition that climbers leave at sunrise each day for their climb on the mountain. Rituals Lama Da (from Tengbouche) performs the Pujah Buddhist ritual where he blesses gear, climbers and the sherpas. The Sherpas will not go up on the mountain until this ritual has been performed. During the ceremony all the expedition equipment that will be used on the mountain needs to be blessed. The juniper will be lit to smolder at the alter that is built up with stone and prayer flags are attached to it by sherpas. The smoke will rise to heaven’s sending the good wishes. Lama Da will take some of the expedition food and make a temple of sort, made of rice, popcorn, cookies and beer as part of the offering. During his chant and readings climbers are given Tsampa (a roasted barely flour) for tossing followed by a festive food feast. Traditional rituals in Nepal before climbing Mount Everest are very important to the Sherpas to honor and appease the mountain, which they call Sagarmatha – goddess of the sky. Environmental Effects of Climbing on Everest Trash on Everest Deforestation The Nepalese government now requires a $4,000 deposit from climbers that is returned if the same amount of gear and supplies is brought back down as was taken up. Increased Trash Build-Up Due to climbing and tourism, trees are being rapidly cut down. When Sherpas aren't leading summit attempts on Everest, they visit their families that they usually only see three or four times a year. This is because each summit attempt takes about 4 months in total. Therefore, there is limited time with their wives and children. High Altitude Cerebral Edema HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA Acute Altitude Sickness Types of Altitude Sickness Symptoms: Mild symptoms feel like a hangover, Headache, Fatigue / Tiredness, Nausea, Shortness of Breath, Loss of Appetite, Disturbance in Sleep, Dizziness. Prevention The only cure for all the types of Altitude Sickness is to descend to a lower elevation immediately. Acclimatization by ascending to no more than 300 to 500 meters per day above 3000 meters and the proper amount of rest are the best methods for preventions of AMS. Water in the head : Severe headache, Vomiting, Walking like an intoxicated (ataxia), Mental confusion / altered mental status, Irritable – does not want to be bothered by other people, Unconsciousness or coma, Test: tandem walking testline to toe step. Fall off from the line. Water in Lungs, Increasing shortness of breath even at rest, Severe cough – Dry / productive, Very tired unusual fatigue while walking, High pulse rate, ie: 110, Blueness of face, lip, fingernails – that means the inability of transporting oxygen into the blood. This is the easier of the two routes. Northeast Ridge For my climb, I will take the South Col route because it is the easiest route up Everest and is the route most beginners on Everest take. Route Options There are two main routes to reach the summit, the Southeast and Northeast Ridges. Southeast Route This is the more advanced and difficult of the two routes. Also called the Nor Col Route. Also called the South Col Route. Comes from Tibet. Comes from Nepal. TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST Experience Needed Prior to Mount Everest Summit Attempt Participants in a Mt. Everest Expedition must have a solid understanding of mountaineering skills. Everest requires that each team member have previous high altitude experience, such as McKinley, Aconcagua, Cho Oyu or other 7,000 - 8,000 meter peaks. For the United States, Hepatitis A and B, Rabies and Typhoid are required. The ratio of Sherpa to climber is 1:1. This ensures safe climbing and that each Sherpa is responsible for their one climber. This video from 2012 shows the dangers of climbing Mt. Everest. To reduce deforestation, it is now prohibited to burn wood in the Mt. Everest Park area. Trash on Everest has been building up with an increased number of climbers. To reduce trash, volunteer groups have been sent up on the mountains and remove about 2 tons of waste every month. My Climbing Team Sherpa Pemba Dorjie Climber Reinhold Messner Climber Ed Viesturs Sherpa Pemba Dorjie Climbers Reinhold Messner and Ed Viesturs Ed is a committed climber and has summited Everest seven times and was the first American climber to summit all fourteen of the world's 8,000 meter mountain peaks. When Ed wasn't climbing, he worked as a veterinary doctor. Reinhold has been thought of as the greatest climber in history. He was the first to summit all fourteen 8,000 meter peaks and was the first climber to solo climb Everest without supplemental oxygen. Reinhold was a full-time climber. Sherpa Pemba Dorjie has the fastest climb to the peak in 8 hours and 10 minutes.He has also led many successful trips to Everest's summit. When not climbing, Pemba organizes service projects such as dental, eye, and other health camps in his village and other remote villages in Nepal. Airfare This is a long, but interesting video about Ed Viesturs and his Everest Expedition. For your flight, make sure you have a current passport with a picture and a current ID photo card. Personal Travel for One Person- Approximatley $200 Cost to get from Kathmandu Airport to Base Camp Yaks to and from Base Camp $150 per yak per day carrying 120lbsPorters to and from Base Camp $75 per porter per day carrying 60lbsTea Houses and food on trek to EBC $20 – $100/person /day – 7 days $140 – $700Mt. Everest Park Fee $100 per team Overall about $1,225 Overall $2,100 Nepalese Liaison Officer $3000/teamSouth Base Camp Medical support $100/person, $300 for my teamPermit $25,000 for 1 – $70,000 for 7 or $10,000 each, $30,000 for my teamGarbage and human waste deposit $12,000/team (refundable but not always) Icefall Doctors to fix route $2500/teamContribution to fixed ropes above Icefall $100/climber or $300 for my teamWeather forecast $0 to $3000Puja $300 Overall approximatley $51,400 Price to stay at the High Camps Tents $3000 new (sleeping, cooking, toilet, storage at 4 camps for 3 people)Cooks $5000 per cook and assistant for 6 weeks- $15,000/teamFood and fuel $1900 per person for 6 weeks- $5,700 for my team *for my whole team* Overall cost $23,700 Climbing Gear Everything on Orange List for my three man team Approximatley $30,000 -Medical Kit- $1,000 -Rescue Insurance- $400 (if below certain altitude) -Helicopter evacuation insurance from Base Camp- South side $5,000 (not available on north col side) (optional) Full Religious Ceremony Before Everest Climb $121,525 Climbers are expected to tip their sherpa $500 if they make it to the top, and since I'm going to make it to the top, I'll need the $500. To reduce my impact on the mountain, I'll make sure to bring a pee bottle so I don't contaminate snow and water and also take as little plastic containers as possible because most plastics end up being left on the mountain to avoid carrying the extra weight. And here's why... Southeast Route Pros Cons Northest Route Pros Cons Beautiful trek to base camp in the Khumbu Easy access to villages for pre-summit recovery Helicopter rescue from base camp if necessary Slightly warmer sometimes with less winds Khumbu Icefall instability Crowds, especially on summit night Cornice Traverse exposure Slightly longer summit night Less crowds Can drive to base camp Easier climbing to mid-level camps Slightly shorter summit night Colder temps and harsher winds Camps at higher elevations A bit more difficult with smooth or loose rocks No opportunity for helicopter rescue at any point